Chapter 12:

It's been three days since Izzie has woken up and she still has no feeling in her legs. Derek is baffled. There is no physical cause for Izzie's problem. He doesn't want to release her but there is no medical explanation for her condition. He walks into Izzie's room and interrupts a serious conversation between Izzie and Alex.

"What's the verdict?" Izzie asks smiling at Derek when she sees him enter the room.

"There's nothing showing up on the tests." He says pulling up a chair next to her bed. "Usually I would keep you in here until we can find out what's wrong, but I've ran every test and nothing is there. The paralysis is not continuing and I know you are going stir crazy here. So I'm going to release you. But only into someone's care. I take it she'll be released into your care?" He asks looking at Alex.

"She's going to go home with me." Alex assures him grabbing Izzie's hand.

"Good. I want you to start physical therapy. Maybe we need to just get things jumpstarted again. Give it a few weeks and if nothing changes then we'll rerun the tests and if nothing shows up, we'll think of other options. I don't want to open you up if we can avoid it, but with nothing showing up on the tests, I'm grasping at straws here." He tells the couple truthfully.

The shunt was removed the day before with Derek announcing that the bleeding had stopped and the fractures will heal with time. Izzie's head is still bandaged to help the bones grow back together. Her ribs are still taped up and a cast has finally been put around her leg.

By three o'clock that afternoon after Izzie made an appointment for physical therapy in two days, she is released into Alex's care. Meredith, George, and Christina promise to stop over later that night for dinner and to bring some of Izzie's stuff over. As Izzie gets changed out of the hospital gown Alex calls her mother to tell her that Izzie is being released. Izzie's mother asks to see her, but Alex asks her to give Izzie another day or two. Ms. Daniels agrees but tells Alex that her psychic informed her that she would only be in town for another three days before she had to return home. Alex agrees to pass the information on to Izzie and hangs up with Ms. Daniels as Izzie wheels out of her room followed closely by Bailey.

Alex grabs Izzie's bag and flowers and walks out to the parking lot to get the car. Bailey stays with Izzie while Alex pulls his car up to the door. He lifts Izzie up to put her in his car.

By eight o'clock Izzie is settled in and Alex is on the phone to put in an order for food before the others arrive.

"Do you want anything special?" He calls over to her.

"No, I'm fine." He places the order and returns to the living room which has finally been furnished.

"If I didn't know better. Actually I do know better which leads to this comment. I think you left your living room unfurnished just to get me into your bed." She says looking around the living room which is now sporting a couch and two chairs. Alex laughs evilly and takes Izzie's hands in his and kisses her knuckles before answering.

"Well it worked didn't it? A genius plan if I do say so myself." Alex taunts happy to see Izzie joking.

Twenty minutes later Alex answers the door to welcome Meredith, George and Christina in. Meredith hands him a bag with Izzie's stuff which he places in the bedroom.

"Make yourselves comfortable." He invites.

"Food is on the way." After a dinner that passed mostly in silence Christina bursts out.

"I don't know what to do! I want to insult you, but I can't!" She says to Alex. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Sorry to hear that Yang. I got myself all ready for your barbs. You disappoint me." Alex counters.

"Oh I'll get you Evil Spawn. I have respect for Izzie. That has to be it. Respect for her. You're not human, so it can't be out of any kind feeling towards you. I need to drink more. That will help me." With the tension broken conversation flows around the table.

"Izzie did you hear?" Meredith says loudly. "Everyone is saying that the new batch of interns coming in has a model. I think you're going to have competition."

"Izzie is the only Dr. Model. No one is better then her." Alex interjects putting his arm around Izzie.

"I think I just vomited in my mouth." Christina moans.

"Well that's our cue to leave." Meredith says standing up. Christina and George follow suit. All three wish a goodnight to Alex and Izzie before making their way towards the door. When George reaches the doorway he looks to his left and sees the partially open door to the bedroom. He cringes slightly, but enough to get Meredith's attention. She follows George's gaze to the bedroom and gives him a questioning look.

"I think I just lost my innocence." He whispers. "At least before I could pretend their relationship was platonic. You know, separate beds, that sort of thing. My happy dream world has been ruined." Meredith laughs and shakes her head before guiding George out the door. Before leaving she turns to take one last look into the apartment and sees Alex carrying Izzie into the bedroom talking to her quietly. Meredith smiles sadly and closes the door behind her as she leaves the apartment.

Alex sits Izzie on the bed and helps her get changed. He helps her into bed before going back out in the main area of the apartment to clean up and lock the doors. When he returns Izzie is still sitting up in bed waiting for him. Alex stands in the doorway watching her. Taking a deep breath he closes the door behind him and walks into the room. He sits on the edge of the bed next to Izzie and takes her hand in his.

"I want to tell you something. I wanted to say it earlier this week, but I haven't had the chance and I want you to know that I planned this earlier in the week and that it is not something I just came up with okay?" Izzie nods slightly confused but keeps quiet seeing how nervous Alex is. He takes another breath and presses a kiss to her knuckles.

"I love you. I never told you before and after that night, it scared me so much that I might never get the chance to tell you. I love you and I have loved you for so long. I wanted to give this to you." He says pulling the little black box out of his pocket.

"It's a promise. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you and always will, but I don't want to bind you to me until I can bring to a marriage what you bring." He opens the box to show Izzie the gold band that has roses engraved in it with a small diamond at the center of each rose. Tears fill her eyes as she looks at the ring.

"I can't accept it." She whispers. Alex freezes and looks at her.

"Why not?"

"Look at me Alex! I can't walk! I can't even get changed by myself! I don't know how long this will last! I don't know if this will be my life! You say you want to wait until you can bring to a marriage what I can bring, well I feel the same! You bring a whole person to a marriage! I might not be!" Her eyes fill with tears as she yells.

"You are a whole person!" He replies cradling her face.

"No I'm not. Not anymore." She cries. Alex crawls up into the bed and cradles her against his side.

"I can't force you to believe me. I'll wait until you see what I see. I'll wait until the end of time if that's what you need, but if right now you were a whole person, would you have said yes?"

"Of course!"

"Then when you get better, I'm going to ask again and you better say yes. A guy can only take so much rejection before it affects his ego."

Author's Note: I'm back! Sorry it took me so long to put this chapter up, but I have to say, college is hard! I've been studying all week for quizzes, and then next week is hell week. So if you don't hear from me for awhile that's why.

The reviews are dwindling down. Come on guys! Let me know what you think, I love reviews! To my continuous reviewers: Thank you so much! You guys are the best and I'm so glad you enjoy the fic!